Franz-Josef Selig

Franz-Josef Selig is internationally regarded as one of the most distinguished singers of the serious bass repertoire, including roles such as Gurnemanz, King Marke, Sarastro, Rocco, Osmin, Daland, Fiesco, and Fasolt. He appears at all major opera houses worldwide (including the Vienna State Opera, Bavarian State Opera, La Scala in Milan, Teatro Real Madrid, the Paris opera houses, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York) as well as at prestigious festivals (Bayreuth, Baden-Baden, Salzburg, Aix-en-Provence).

He began his career as a member of the ensemble at the Aalto-Theater in Essen, where he remained for six years, before embarking on a freelance career.

In the 2025/26 season, his engagements include appearances as Landgrave (Tannhäuser) in Geneva. He returns to the Vienna State Opera as Gurnemanz and as Daland (The Flying Dutchman). As King Marke, he appears in Tristan und Isolde both at the Hamburg State Opera and in a concert performance with the London Symphony Orchestra. In Salzburg, he performed Sarastro (The Magic Flute) at Mozart Week as well as in Mozart’s Requiem, which he also performs in Valencia. He also appears in Boston with Beethoven’s Missa solemnis.